Circulator



Nov. 13, 1934. B. BOHNENBLUST 1,980,315

CIRCULATOR Filed July 21, 1933 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 7 1,980,315 omouLAToR' Ben Bohnenblust, Riley, Kans. Application July 21,1933, SerialNo. 681,581

' 6 Claims.

' This invention relates to a circulator for maintaining a flow of fluid, one of the objects being to utilize the vacuum produced .by an engine for operating the circulator and produce the desired. movement of the fluid operated on.

While the invention can be employed for creating currents of air, water, or other fluids, it has been found particularly useful for circulating water used in the cooling systems of internal combustion engines. Modifications, however, permit the use of the apparatus in connection with ventilating systems whereby air can be forcibly delivered into a vehicle body, other uses being also possible within the scope of the invention.

A further object is to provide a circulator which is simple and compact in construction, can be readily installed, and the use of which greatly reduces the mechanism heretofore required for producing a circulation of water or other fluid.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the circulator, its several connections being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 33, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the casing of a rotor constituting the driving member of the circulator. This casing can be provided with a removable top or head 2 and it has a substantially tangential intake port 3 controlled by a valve 4 and a substantially tangential outlet port 5. This latter port is connected by a pipe 6 to the intake manifold M of an internal combustion engine.

The rotor includes a hub 7 having blades 8 which work freely upon the inner surfaces of the casing and move successively into position between the ports 3 and when a suction is set up through casing 1 from port 3 to port 5.

Casing 1 is connected by a tubular standard 9 to the center of a casing 10 adapted to house the impeller of the circulator. This casing opens upwardly into the standard and is preferably closed at the bottom by a removable head v11. In the center of this head is a'socket 12 which can contain a ball.13..constituting a thrust 'bearing .for a shaft '14. The shaft extends upwardly through casing 10 and longitudinally within standard 9 and is attached at its upper endto .the hub 7 of the driving member of the circulator.

Secured to shaft 14 within casing 10 is the hub 15 of an impeller, this hub being provided with blades 16 adapted to work freely upon the inner surfaces of the casing of the impeller.

Casing 10 is provided with an inlet port 17 connected at 18 to the outlet of a radiator R or the like. Another port 19 is arranged substantially tangentially of casing 10 and is connected at 20 to the water jacket of the engine, a portion of this jacket being indicated at J.

A drain opening 21 can extend downwardly from the socket 12 to a drain valve 22 which is normally closed.

The circulator constituting the present invention is adapted to be positioned with the casing 10 between the radiator outlet and the water jacket inlet of a power unit. Under some conditions, however, the port 17 can be utilized as, an air inlet while the port 19 can be used as an air outlet. This is particularly true where air is to be forced into a vehicle body for ventilation purposes. The rotor constituting the propelling element located in casing 1 is larger than the impeller within casing 10--11. Thus the suction of air into manifold M due to the operation of the engine will cause air to rush into casing 1 through port 3 and drive the actuating member or rotor located in the casing. Thus motion will be transmitted through shaft 14 to the impeller in casing 1011 and the fluid supplied to said casing will be caused to enter the port 19 forcibly, thereby producing a forced circulation of the fluid. Where the apparatus is employed in connection with the cooling system of an engine the standard 9 is so arranged and is of such length as to extend above the maximum water level. Thus water flowing from the radiator R. will seek and maintain its level in the tubular standard. .In order that trapping of air-in the. upper portion of tubular standard 9 by the water maybe avoided, an air vent 23 is located in the upper portion of said standard.

By providing the valve 4 in port 3 the flow of air into casing 1 can be controlled and the rotation of the propelling member correspondingly controlled.

' UNITED STATES lum-ome lower casing, and a driving connection between the rotor and impeller, the casing of the impeller being provided with inlet and outlet ports...

2. The combination with the cooling system of an engine including a casing having a water inlet port and a water outlet port, and an impellermounted for rotation between the ports, of vacuum operated means for actuating the impeller. N

3. The combination with a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, and an impeller mounted for rotation therein, of vacuum operated means for actuating the impeller, said means including a casing, avacuum operated I rotor therein, and a shaft connection between said" rotor and the impeller.

'4. The combination with an internal combustion engine includinga water jacket and a radiator, of animpeller for forcibly circulating water from the radiator to the jacket, and means operated by a vacuum created in the engine for driving the impeller, said means including a casing, a pipe connection between the casing and the intake manifold of the engine, an air intake port in the casing, and, a shaft connection between said rotor and the impeller.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine including a water jacket anda radiator, of an impeller for forcibly circulating water from the radiator to the jacket, and means operated by a vacuum created in the engine for driving the impeller, said means including a casing, a pipe connection between the casing and the intake manifold of the engine, a valved air inlet 3 port opening into the casing, a tubular standard interposed between the rotor and the impeller for receiving a portion of the circulating medium, said standard having a vent and being extended above the maximum level of the circulating medium, and a shaft connection between the rotor andimpeller. E p 7 i 6. 'I'hetcombination with a casing having an inlet port and an :outlet port, and an impeller mounted for rotation between the ports, ofmea-nsi for actuating the impeller, said means including a casing, and a vacuum operated rotor therein operatively' connected to the impeller.

.' v BEN BOHNENBLUST. 

